absolute basics; very rudiments
to take someone's life; to kill someone
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
(practical) application; putting to practical use; applied (e.g. physics, linguistics, research)
spine; backbone; spinal column
serious damage; heavy damage; being wrecked; thrashing (an opponent); crushing; giving a drubbing
to collapse (of a building, dream, plan, etc.); to be destroyed; to fall through; to be completely defeated (in battle); to be wiped out; to be routed
to shake each other's hands; to shake hands with each other
plunking (down something heavy); flumping (into a chair)
awareness that one is not good at something; feelings of inferiority
to develop into a serious incident
to be prolonged; to drag on; to take a long time; to persist; to linger
dine and dash; leaving a restaurant without paying
cancelling (a debt); forgiving (a debt); being even; forgetting (what was said or done); pretending (something never happened)
criticism; judgement; judgment; comment
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
special someone; special person; precious one; significant other
to be proud; to be haughty; to be arrogant; to be conceited; to brag; to show off
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
pearls thrown before swine; unused possession; useless possession; waste of talent
risky; dangerous; insecure
sermon; preaching; homily; remonstration; scolding; lecturing
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first
thoroughness; completeness; consistency; thorough enforcement; seeing to it that a policy, etc. is carried out without exception
by today; before the day is over
to detain; to check; to restrain; to stop
to put all one's skill (into doing something); to do something to the best of one's ability
treat (esp. food and drink); entertainment; treating someone (to a meal); gorgeous dinner; feast; excellent food
to lend an ear to; to listen to
to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
conduct; behavior; behaviour; being pregnant
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
in general; generally; mostly; gist; point; main idea
cowardly; timid; easily frightened